The Tiger Notebook

“Work inspires creation. Keep working. If you succeed, keep working. If you fail, keep working. If you’re interested, keep working. If you’re bored, keep working.” - Michael Crichton 

One day, years ago when I was so very young, I decided that I wanted to be a writer. So I bought a notebook. It couldn’t just be any notebook though. I chose carefully. 

In those days my parents bought all my school supplies at drug stores like Eckerds, or retail stores like Kmart and Target. I may have been with my parents or I may have walked out of our suburban housing complex and hiked up the hill to the outside world, and entered Eckerds on my own. The memories are hazy, I’m not exactly sure.

What I am sure of is walking up and down the stationery aisle checking out the notebooks. I found a spiral notebook with a photo of a tiger on the cover. It spoke to me. I knew it was the right one. 

I bought that notebook and told myself I was going to fill it with stories. So I started writing one and two page short stories. The first story was titled “A Tale of Two Planets.” Two worlds reach for the stars, meet, and chaos ensues. It was pretty simple stuff, but it was fun. 

I’m not exactly sure why I chose that notebook. Maybe it was because I love animals and I’ve always liked tigers. One of my favorite toys was a tiger figure that I had bought at the Frankfurt zoo. In hindsight though, I think it was also because the tiger represented my fierce desire to be a writer. I really, really wanted to write. 

I quit after three stories. I guess you could say life got in the way. It turned out that I wasn’t as fierce as the tiger on the cover of the notebook. But that’s a story for another time. 

In any case, here I am now. Years later. 

Writing. 

Next: Inktober Reflections